Pause for a moment and observe this Peterhead granite obelisk before you. This is the monument to George Kmety. It stands as a tribute to a remarkable Hungarian patriot and military leader. He later became a general in the Ottoman army.
The Kmety György sírja is located within Kensal Green Cemetery. This cemetery is a Grade I registered site. This adds to the monument’s significance. The inscription is repeated on all three sides of the obelisk. It is written in English, Latin, and Turkish. The inscription identifies Kmety as a lieutenant general in the armies of the Ottoman Emperor. It also calls him the Defender of Kars and Chief of the Forces in Syria. Hungary mourns him as a brave commander. He fought in the National War of 1848-1849. The monument was erected by command of the Sultan.
George Kmety, also known as Ismail Pasha lived from 1813 to 1869. He played a vital role in Hungary’s war of independence. This followed Hungary’s revolt against Austrian rule in 1848. After the revolution’s defeat, Kmety fled to Turkey. There, he became a lieutenant-general in the Ottoman Army under the name Ismail Pasha.
He fought on the Ottoman side in the Crimea. He defeated the Russian army at Kars in 1855. This event was later described in his book. It was titled “Narrative of the Defence of Kars” published in 1856. Later in life, he settled in London. Kmety died here in 1869. He is believed to be the most senior Hungarian military figure buried outside his native country.
His funeral took place here in Kensal Green on May 1st, 1865. Newspapers reported a large gathering of friends and dignitaries. The procession included mutes in silk robes. A hearse drawn by four horses with feathers and velvet trappings followed. Ten mourning coaches and private carriages were also part of the procession. These belonged to the Turkish Ambassador and other notable figures.
The brass plate on the coffin bore the inscription. It read: “General George Kmety born May 1813 in Hungary. He died in London April 25, 1865.”
Kmety’s early life was marked by academic promise. He was meant to attend a German University. A clerical error gave his scholarship to another student. Disappointed, he turned to the military. He joined the Hungarian revolution in 1848 as a captain. He rose to the rank of general. After the revolution’s failure, he fled to the Ottoman Empire.
In the Ottoman Army, he modernized their forces. He served alongside Józef Bem. Bem was another leader from the 1848 revolution in Hungary. After Bem’s death in 1850, Kmety moved to London. He engaged in a public dispute with General Artúr Görgey. Görgey had published a book defending his leadership during the revolution.
During the Crimean War, Kmety rejoined the Ottoman Army. He served under General William Fenwick Williams at the siege of Kars. Despite the surrender, his efforts earned him recognition from the Ottoman government. He retired in 1861 and returned to London.
The Sultan ordered this statue to be built in recognition of Kmety’s help to the Ottoman Empire. He never married and had no children. The Kmety György sírja serves as a lasting memorial to a man. He was a soldier, a patriot, and a leader. His life spanned continents and armies. This monument immortalizes his contributions.